Mr. Weah is all about self – Ten (10) irrefutable truths – Activist Martin K. N. Kollie
Martin K. N. Kollie writes…
1) SKD is banned by both FIFA and CAF because it is considered unworthy to host soccer matches.
2) ATS is in ruins. The facility is dingy because of no maintenance.
3) In keeping with Article 46 and Article 57, CAF banned Liberia’s Under-17 and Under-20 National Teams. CAF also fined them US$5,000. U-17 and U-20 are still banned.
4) The annual budget for National Football throughout Liberia was cut down from US$1,013,780 to US$100,000. Imagine from 1.1 million to 100k.
5) The promise made by GMW in 2017 to build 7 stadiums is an utter failure. He has not even begun one of them. But he chose to woefully distract you with a substandard playground.
6) The annual budget for Grassroots Sports Development was cut down from US$15,000 to US$5,000.
7) The annual budget of the Amputee Football Federation was also cut from US$66,915 to US$3,400.
8)The budget for the High School Football Championship was also cut from US$12,100 to US$1,000.
9) The budget of the Liberia Olympic Committee was cut from US$19,199 to US$1,000.
10) The budget of the National County Meet was cut from US$300,000 to US$100,000.
He’s cutting down the budgetary appropriations of strategic sports agencies but pretending to you like he’s making effort to promote sports. He’ll lie.
Reference to budget data: 2020/2021 Approved National Budget.
Now, I outlined these 10 irrefutable truths because I want to ask 2 fundamental questions:
1) Does GMW really care about developing sports especially soccer in Liberia?
2) Does he have priority? Does he really have one amid scarce national resources and competing priorities?
Those of you who can rationalize and think beyond will endeavor to proffer apt responses and hard truths to these questions.
Let’s move to my next point.
Before Mr. Weah could assume power, a myth in lieu of rhetoric was mimicked and it spread like wildfire. What was this myth? “When GMW becomes President, Samuel Eto’o Fils, Didier Yves Drogba, J. J. Okocha, El Hadji Diouf, Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor, Asamoah Gyan, Lionel Andrés Messi, and Cristiano Ronaldo will establish investment companies in Liberia and employ Liberians.”
To date, history has annulled this myth. Even the proponents of this myth have become prey to its devastating effect. Instead of Okocha, Diouf, Adebayor, Asamoah, Eto’o, Didier, etc. investing in Liberia, it is Liberia that is investing in them. According to a public official who prefers anonymity, we spent US$71,000 on air tickets and accommodation for those international footballers who are currently staying in luxurious hotels. Food and Entertainment are not even mentioned. But I had to disagree with him because this amount seems too small.
Let’s move to my last point.
The economy of Liberia is in tatters. Any serious government would want to maximize its scarce resources based on priorities. But GMW does not think like this. I have not seen a president who spends most of his time playing. How can you keep playing football when your people are suffering and dying. This is insensitivity and inhumanity. Civil servants have not even taken pay for months. Public health facilities and educational institutions are challenged. Access to electricity, safe drinking water, transportation, roads, sanitation, job, etc. is almost lacking.
But this president does not even care at all. He keeps playing and playing. He uses public money not just to build his private duplexes but to also invite his footballing friends to merry-make. Mr. Weah is all about self. This self-gratifying and deluxe ex-soccer star, who was once broke before assuming power, is an ingrate to football.
Was that substandard playground a priority? No, it wasn’t especially when existing sports facilities and institutions remain victimized by budgetary constraints. SKD is still banned though.
For me, I am here to say THE TRUTH. To my critics and CDCians, if you like, do not only insult me on social media for challenging your “god” but you can also organize a special talk show to insult me.
Those jibes and tantrums don’t even move me. Trust me, I won’t insult you because that’s not me. But I will remain engaged to expose hidden truths. If you do not like my hard truth, provide a counterargument. I have provided my facts. Bring yours. Avoid diatribe and let’s debate. Don’t cuss me. Let’s clash with ideas. But again, it’s your right to cuss because this is your forte.
Happy Easter to everyone. I see y’all.
Activist Martin K. N. Kollie writes from exile…
